New Delhi, Aug 12: Expressing happiness over the Union Cabinet clearing a bill granting statehood to Delhi, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today asserted this step would take the capital towards "prosperity and happiness". "Granting statehood is in itself an important step," Advani said while celebrating `Raksha Bandhan` with children, who came from all over the country, at his residence here.

"Door has opened for prosperity and happiness, now the people of the city have to make Delhi an ideal capital," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Delhi BJP chief Madan Lal Khurana, who was present on the occasion, thanked Advani for the cabinet`s decision and said "for the past 35 years, experiments have been conducted on delhi which have made the city a slum."


"The people of delhi will remain grateful for this step," he said.
Wishing the people a happy "Raksha Bandhan", Advani said `rakhi` symbolises a promise of protection and security from a brother to his sister which creates a trust.

"Today there is a need for security throughout the country," he added.
Children from several schools all over the country including Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh tied `rakhi` on Advani.

Also present at the function were representatives from United Nations Environment Programme who presented a souvenir to Advani.


Bureau Report